Hobart Zebras and Glenorchy Knights were forced to settle for a point apiece, as they drew 2-2 on Sunday afternoon. Declan Brown gave Knights the lead from the penalty spot before an own goal in the opening minute of the second half restored parity. Nick Naden then headed the Knights back into the lead before Mathew Sanders deflected home Jayden Hey's shot to square it again. Both sides had chances to win the game but couldn't convert, as the game ended locked at 2-2.
Knights took the lead 11 minutes in from the penalty spot after Jan Charuza caught Matthew Nowicki with a high boot in the box and was perhaps fortunate to have remained on the pitch, with Nowciki badly concussed and sent to hospital.
Brown made no mistake, slamming home the spot kick to give his side the early lead.
The first half saw very few chances created as the Zebras enjoyed more of the ball but not in overly threatening areas, with the Knights content to counter-punch and hit them with speed on the break. Scoring opportunities were few and far between, with neither keeper worked particularly hard.
The Zebras lifted late in the half and twice came close but a nice shot block by Jade Clay and missed header at the back post from Sanders saw the game head into the break at 1-0.
The second half saw the game snap from its slumber instantaneously, as the Zebras squared the game at 1-1 just a minute after the restart, albeit fortuitously. Jayden Hey showed some nice footwork to buy room out wide on the lef,t before bending in a cross that Nicky Edwards couldn't get to. That seemingly surprised Jade Clay in behind him, and it bounced off his leg and rolled, almost in slow motion right into the bottom corner.
Sanders almost had a second as his effort on the turn was saved by Nester before it was the Knights who retook the lead when Nick Naden thumped a close range header in. A powerful run and deftly dinked cross from Jake Stuart set it up, but the lead would not last long.
Two minutes later it was 2-2 as Jayden Hey drove a low shot into the box that Mathew Sanders inadvertently deflected into the far corner of the goal.
That set up a frantic final 20 minutes, with both sides looking to push on and win it despite some tired bodies on display. Nicky Edwards had the best chance as he stormed from halfway into the penalty area and with just the keeper to beat he skied his shot.
That had been a theme for both sides throughout the game, with a lot of overhit shots and set pieces that led to rather quiet days for the respective goalkeepers.
Nick Naden had the Knights best chance, but on his right foot he blazed high and wide when picked out at the top of the box.
The final chance of the game fell to Sanders, in a similar spot to his late first half chance. At the back post he got his head to the ball but couldn't hit the target, as the game ended locked at 2-2.
The result leaves the Zebras occupying fourth place on the table, sitting 8 points back of the ladder leaders Devonport, whilst the Knights sit 2 points back from the Zebras in fifth.
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